Two of the Royal Navy sailors held by Iran spoke today of their ordeal at the hands of their captors.

Faye Turney and Arthur Batchelor have given their stories to national newspapers amid criticism of the Ministry of Defence for allowing them to profit from the incident.

Families of other personnel killed in Iraq said it was "shameful" they should profit in this way, while opposition politicians and former senior military personnel warned it would set a dangerous precedent. Leading Seaman Turney, 25, who has been the particular focus of media attention, was kept isolated from her comrades and told they had been sent home.